EVALUATION OF PAEDERUS-LITTORARIUS (COLEOPTERA, STAPHYLINIDAE) AS AN EGG PREDATOR OF CHRYSOTEUCHIA-TOPIARIA (LEPIDOPTERA, PYRALIDAE) IN WISCONSIN CRANBERRY BOGS

A preliminary study was conducted to determine if the rove beetle, Pae derus littorarius Grav., would exhibit a feeding preference for the eg gs of the pyralid moth, Chrysoteuchia topiaria Zeller, a pest in Wisco nsin cranberry bogs. Individuals were offered a choice of C. topiaria eggs or Drosophila sp. adults for four days. Total number of prey item s eaten was converted to weight using a multiplier based on the mean w eight of 20 individuals of each prey item, respectively. A significant preference for Drosophila adults was observed in the preference trial ; however as many as 24 C. topiaria eggs in addition to Drosophila off erings were consumed by P. littorarius individuals within a 24 h perio d. Additionally, laboratory and field observations suggests P. littora rius is a polyphagous predator.